While medical insurance has always been a hot button issue in the U.S., very few people have ever been satisfied with their options regardless of which political party or insurance company is calling the shots.

But many people simply don’t have the luxury of complaining about insurance at all – because they don’t have any.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, things are looking up for some members of the community. Basketball superstar Michael Jordon has helped endow a medical clinic for those in need – and a second one is on the way.

The Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic, to which the superstar donated seven million dollars beginning in 2017, opened its doors on October 17, 2019.

Jordan is a long-time resident of the area, having played college basketball at UNC-Chapel Hill. He now owns the NBA team the Charlotte Hornets.

At the clinic’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Jordan reflected on what his philanthropic endeavor meant to him and was brought to tears.

“As you can see, it’s a very emotional thing for me to be able to give back to a community that’s supported me over the years.”

According to CNN, the 6,800-square-foot clinic will focus on primary and preventative care, but also offer a full range of behavior and social services integral to getting people healthy and back on their feet, literally and figuratively.

Jordan is keenly aware of the effects of poverty on health. The clinic is built in the most underserved area. It’s has been strategically placed in a neighborhood that is shown to have a high need for quality medical care.

People who live in the neighborhood were also asked for input on what they needed from a neighborhood clinic.

“I believe that your ZIP code or neighborhood should not determine the quality of your health care – or whether or not you can even get care at all,” said Jordan in a statement.

Jordan feels a responsibility to use his fortune to do good in the city that has supported him and is keenly aware of how much he has compared to most people.

“The money is not an issue for me, it’s the commitment to be able to make a difference and make an impact…” he said.

And the city he chose is very much in need. The Center’s press release noted that Charlotte “was ranked 50th out of 50 in economic mobility for children born into poverty by a 2014 Harvard University/UC Berkeley study.” That means kids born into poverty have the deck stacked against them so high that it’s nearly impossible for them to live any other kind of life.

The clinic aims to stop this cycle of poverty for people in the area by allowing them to tackle their health needs as well as social needs such as behavioral issues, housing, access to parenting information, and impediments to employment (such as a lack of transportation).

They also employ a social worker.

This integrated care model has been shown to work better for low-income communities than simple doctor-patient healthcare.

The clinic has already seen hundreds of patients who, just weeks ago, were unable to see a doctor because of the prohibitive cost, even for serious ailments. Residents are grateful for the medical care now available and have called it a “blessing.”

Be sure to scroll down below to Jordan’s emotional speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: CNN, CBS News, The Charlotte Observer via YouTube